Dim Sum
For the uninitiated, dim sum is a Cantonese-style brunch consisting of many small treats, dumplings, and buns traditionally served from competing pushcarts that are wheeled around a large banquet-sized room by aggressive female hawkers. Dim sum holds a special place within the greater Chinese cuisine, most likely because it is a meal meant to be shared with friends and family–dumplings come in sets of three or four and the term dim sum translates literally to mean “little hearts.”
Be prepared to yell above the din of the restaurant to flag down a passing cart. You’ll also have to learn the less than subtle art of rejecting the carts toting things you don’t want; the pushcart aunties can be persistent. Some family favorites include: shrimp dumplings (xia jiao), turnip cake (lobo gao), pork dumplings (shu mai), glutinous rice with Chinese sausage (zongzi), bbq pork buns (cha siu bao), egg custard tarts (dan ta), fried sesame balls with lotus paste filling.
Golden Unicorn* 18 East Broadway One of the most popular dim sum places in Chinatown, Golden Unicorn offers the full dim sum experience: a crowded lobby where party numbers are called over a loud speaker, fast-wheeling food carts, and gaudily decorated rooms noisy with the sound of eating. Dim Sum Go Go 5 East Broadway Dim Sum Go Go is probably about as hip as it gets when it comes to dim sum, with its slick red signage and logo. Instead of carts, you order your dim sum selections from a comprehensive menu at the beginning. Try the special fried rice and the mango pudding is a must.